Laterally moving detachable leg construction



9 J. L.'JACOBSON 2,639,956

LATERALLY MOVING DETACHABLE LEG CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 24. 1951 n a? wIN V EN TOR.

Patented May 26, 1953 ST. OFFIQ E LATERALLYZ MOVING DETACHABLE "LEGT.CONSTRUCTION" Jack L. Jacobson, Glencoe,. Ill.

Application August.24;;1951;Serial-.N0..243,491

6 Claims. (01. 311 100 This invention relates detachable legconstruction-for furniture In the manufacture of many different articles,ofrump ture, such as tables; console-'types-of radios and televisionsets, cabinets, it is desirable that-"the to a 1aterally-moving"' legsof the article "be readily detachable "so "that compact shippingpackagesmay be provided. In" such cases, it isadvantageous if the legsmaybe mairitained in a detached condition up to-the time that thearticle or piece is actually delivered- Furthermore; itisto the:ultimate purchaser:

highly'advantageous thatth'e attachment of the legs to the device orpiece of furniture'be simpleand fo'olproof so that the purchaserhimself: may accomplish this,- thus' resulting inasaving to thepurchasers In addition-to the above, it is frequently desirable todesign suchpieces-of-furniture-asaradio or television cabinet sothat-the1cabinet may be sold either as 'a-table -model-or maybe equippedwith legs if-sold. as aconsole model. In-' such case; it-is desirablefrom-a cost angle that' the base structure of the cabineFbesimpleandreadily adaptable to either form-w-ithout sub-- stantial expense-orwithoutuseless fixtures or" features --wh'ere-legs are not to 'be-addedaThere are als'oinstances-Where,after-' a table;-

or similar device; is in a home; it is desirable that the legs bereadily attachable or detachable *so that the. device may-be used orstored without t1ouble.-'- In suchcase, it is essential'that thelegstructure be simple,- foo1proof-and-sturdy. While there are manydetachable leg structures; such"- constructions usually lack thethreefeatures-= mentioned "above.-

This invention provides a "constructionwhere by little changeinconventional cabinet base construction is required toaccommodate theimproved leg; The modified-base construction hasaconventionalappearance-and when not "provided with legs will generallyfunction as anor malbase: The leg construction"embodying the presentinvention' is simple and may -be=attached" or" detached quickly easily;and "ina" foolproof manner.-

The invention will best be understood -by"-de-' scribing the same inconnection" withthe "drawin'gs showing-one form: which-the invention maytake, it' being-understood,i however; that *variations are possible;-

Referring now tothe drawings Figure 1 shows 1 aperspective view-"or atable having the improved detachable leg" construc-* tion;

Figure -2 is abettomyiewtaken along 'line-2 2 2 V of Figure 1 showingthe structure at one'corner of the "table;

Figure 3 is a perspective top view of the con- I struction showninFigure 2, with certain parts brokenaway;

Figure 4 is aside view of the corner construction;

Figure 5 is a sectional detail of the catch; the detailbeing'takenalong'line 55 of Figure '2;

Figure '6 is a detail showing a modifiedstructure.

While the drawings show the invention as being applied to'a table, it isunderstood that this is' merely'exemplary. In practice, the constructionmaybe applied to the bottom of such devices as china cabinets, radio andtelevision cabinets;

bridgetables, camp tables, and the like. Furthermore, the-detachable legconstruction need It not necessarily be applied only-to a corner. maybe'disposed at any intermediate part of'an elongated base or tablestructure.

Referring now-to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, [0 maybe the base panel orbottom of a table top, cabinet; or any other desired article to whichdetachable legs may be applied. Base I i] may be of-wood; metal oranyother material and has marginal portions i I and 12 forming a corner.For simplicity and-easeof manufacturingas Well" as interchangeability,it is preferred to have the corner-formed by margins H and [2 at aconventional right angle However, any other angle maybe used; eitherless or greater than a right angle. form:axcurvedregion; Bottom'face Mof base It) is generallysmoothin the region Where the 'detachable'construction is to be applied. This doesnot'necessarily mean that thissurface must be finished.

Rigidlyisecured to base mat margins H and [2, are wooden members It andH each having a generally- L-shaped section. Thus, wooden memberlii hasbottom face I8, outer side l9 and innerstepped portions 26 and 2|connected to-' getherby ledge 22. Bottom face [8 of the wooden membermay have any desired shape or finish.

Thesame is-true of outer face It. As shown,

outerface l9 mergeswith the side of the base and;in practice, the twomay be finished together as one unit as far as the sides are concerned.It

is possible to have base I D integral with members [6 and I l and routthe channels out.

Wooden member I! is similar in construction to wooden member i6 and thetwo are mitered or otherwise-"joined at 'the corner.

The two marginal portions may meetto As is clearfrcm-F1gures *2, 3 ands,wooden'members IEand I! provide channels 25 and 26 meeting at thecorner. The construction so far described is applied to the desiredarticle of furniture to be equipped with legs. While this constructionis most conveniently applied to the device during manufacture, it may beapplied later with members l6 and I! being set inwardly from anyfinished sides so that these wooden members will not impair theappearance of the article. As shown, woodenchannel-forming members l6and I! are firmly bolted or retained in position by screws. Reliance maybe had on glue or cement or a combination of glue and bolts. Any otherfastening means may be used. Members I6 and I"! may be of metal ifdesired.

Cooperating with the above construction are detachable legs each onegenerally indicated by numeral 30. Each detachable leg comprises legportion proper 3|, which may have any desired shape, dimension or thelike. Leg 3| has the top thereof rigidly and permanently attached to legplate 32. Leg plate 32 may be of wood and has two edge portions 33 and34 complementarily shaped to fit the channel construction formed bymembers l6 and I1. Thus as shown, leg plate 32 at margins 33 and 34 hasa stepped construction providing tongues 35 dimensioned to fit snuglyinto channels 25 and 26. Top face 31 (Fig. 4) of the leg plate bearsagainst the opposing surface of base It] and it is preferred to haveface 3! of the plate smooth enough so that a good fit against theopposing faces is provided. Thus a broad area of support for the legplate is provided not only at the corner of the base but also at thechannels into which the plate tongues fit.

Leg plate 32 may have any desired dimensions along margins 33 and 34,this generally depending upon the load imposed upon the legs. Leg plate32 has free sides 40 and 4|, as shown, and has side 43 formed by cuttingthe corner of the plate material, this side connecting sides 40 and 4|.Side 43 is preferably opposite the corner of the leg plate formed by theintersection of marginal portions 33 and 34. It is also desirable tohave leg 3| join the leg plate between side 43 and the corner. Side 43of the leg plate is provided with slot 44 extending inwardly of theplate and generally varying in depth as shown. Slot 44 at its deepestend extends up to side 4| and is accessible from that end thereof. Theslot 44 stops short of the end of face 43 where this face intersectswith side 40.

Cooperating with slot 44 is lever 50 pivotally secured at to base l0.Lever 50 has end portion 52 which enters slot 44 when the lever ispositioned as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Portion 52 of the lever ispreferably provided with pin 54 extending through the lever at rightangles to the same. As shown, pin 54 bears against side 43 on oppositesides of slot 44 in the locked position of the lever. Instead of pin 54,flat ears or plates may be provided for more extensive contact with face43. However, the construction as shown is simple and effective.

In the locked position of lever 50, it is not essential that portion 52of the lever actually engage the bottom of slot 44. Thus precision incutting the slot is not required. In order to maintain lever 50 in thelocked position, a simple locking means may be provided. As shown, lever50 has aperture 56, this being preferably countersunk on the inside faceof the lever where it is opposed to face l4. Disposed underneath thecounter-sunk apertured portion of the lever when the lever is in alocked position and recessed into the base is member 58 consisting ofcup 53 having therein spring 60 carrying cap 6|. Cover 62 for the cupprevents cap 6| from being pushed out of the cup. Such locking devicesare well known in the art and are widely used.

In the locking position of lever 50, cap 6| will engage counter-sunkaperture 56 in the lever and maintain the same in locked position. Fromthis locked position, the lever may be turned in one direction only forunlocking purposes. As shown in Figure 2, lever 50 can only be turnedcounterclockwise to an unlocking position where finger portion 52' willbe clear of the slotted leg plate.

.It is more convenient to have the locking portion of lever 50 disposedbetween the pivot and portion 52. The remaining part of the lever may bebent clear of surface II) to function as a handle. This however may bevaried so that the locking portion of the lever is on the other side ofthe pivot.

B properly proportioning the various parts, leg plate 32 will fit snuglyin position and be maintained tightly when lever 50 is locked. Bycontrolling the depth of slot 44, it will be impossible to move lever 50beyond its locking position. When the lever is moved to an unlockingposition, the leg plate may be removed.

The construction so far described need not necessarily be disposed at acorner. Thus channel-forming members l6 and I! may be disposed at anintermediate portion of a table or other article of furniture.

Referring to Figure 6, a modified form of the invention is shown,wherein tapers are provided at the inter-fitting channel and tongue.Thus tongue 35' is tapered as shown and fits into correspondinglytapered channels.

What is claimed is:

1. A detachable leg construction for furniture, or the like, comprisinga base member having a substantially flat body surface having generallyL-shaped portions forming a corner construction and providing a pair ofintersecting channels, a detachable leg assembly comprising a leg andleg plate carried at the top end of said leg, said leg plate having afiat surface to rest against the flat base surface, said leg platehaving two adjacent marginal portions complementarily shaped to saidL-shaped members to provide tongues for entry into said channels whensaid leg plate is flat against the base surface, said leg plate having afiat side opposite the corner where the channels intersect, and meanspivotally secured to said base surface and movable to a locking positionfor engaging the flat side of said leg plate for maintaining said legplate locked in position, said movable means having an unlockingposition where said means are clear of said leg plate to permit the sameto be removed.

2. A detachable leg construction for furniture, or the like, comprisinga base surface having a pair of generally L-shaped portions forming acorner construction and providing intersecting channels, a detachableleg assembly comprising a leg and a leg plate permanently joined theretoat the top of said leg, said leg plate being fiat and having twoadjacent marginal portions shaped to provide tongues to fit into thechannels when the leg plate is positioned against the base surface, saidleg plate having a straight side opposite the corner formed by theintersecting channel, said side being slotted, a lever pivotally securedon said base and movable to a locking position, said lever in itslocking position having a portion to engage the slotted portion of theleg plate for wedging the leg plate into position.

3. The construction according to claim 2, wherein said leg plate has aslot extending along the side generally parallel to the base surface andwherein said pivotal means consists of a lever to enter the slot andwherein means are provided for engaging the plate side.

4. The structure according to claim 2, wherein the leg plate slot tapersin depth, the tap-er being such that the locking lever can move in onlyone direction from an unlocking position to a locking position andthereafter stop.

5. An article of furniture having a base structure for accommodatingdetachable legs, said base structure having at each leg position a pairof generally L-shaped portions forming a corner construction andproviding intersecting channels, a lever pivotally secured to said baseat a point spaced from the channel intersection, said lever having alocking position where it points substantially toward said channelintersection and References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Number Name Date 205,746 Houston July 9, 1878 655,358Smyth Aug. 7, 1900 772,462 Gruender Oct. 18, 1904 1,879,087 Chomik Sept.27, 1932 1,951,884 Seward Mar. 20, 1934 2,203,987 Galante June 11, 19402,520,810 Ohlsson Aug. 29, 1950

